Shahid Kapoor gave 250 auditions, made to feel 'lesser' before Kabir Singh

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor is all set for his action thriller Deva, also starring Pooja Hegde as the female lead. The excitement among fans is elevating as Deva will hit the theatres on January 31, 2025. Moreover, moviegoers are eager to witness Shahid and Pooja's first-time onscreen pairing apart from his intense performance as a cop. Apart from returning to the action genre after Bloody Daddy, the speculations of Shahid playing a double role have kept fans on their toes.

After a short break, Shahid recently resumed promotions of Deva and is opening up about his struggles as an actor. Despite being the son of veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor, Shahid's journey was not easy until Kabir Singh. From giving 250 auditions, and renting houses to being looked at as an outsider, Shahid revealed it all.

Shahid Kapoor gave 250 auditions!

Shahid made his acting debut in 2003 with Ishq Vishk and won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Before that, he worked as a background dancer in a few films in the 90s including Subhash Ghai's Taal. However, before he bagged his first film, he had given 250 auditions and lived in rented houses. At one time, he felt victimised.

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During an interview with Raj Shamani, Shahid said, My father is a character actor, and my mom was a Kathak dancer since she was 15 years old. I have lived in rented houses. I have given many auditions so I don’t have that sense of privilege."

He further added, "I went through a very long phase of feeling victimised by my circumstances… Some people struggle in a BMW, they start their journey by working with the top two-three directors in the country. I came after giving 250 auditions."

The Jersey actor also revealed that people say that his fashion sense is good, but, there was a time when he didn't even have money to buy clothes from the Lokhandwala market.

Shahid was made to feel 'lesser'!

The Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya actor further added that though he had made it big, he was made to feel lesser until Kabir Singh.

The Udta Punjab actor said, "This happened right before Kabir Singh. I don’t want to get into specifics, but I was made to feel like I am lesser, as an artist, as a star, as an individual. I was put in a situation where I was made to feel like I am lesser. And I would never accept that."

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Though he didn't name any film, actor or director, in 2018, during the making of Padmaavat, reports of the cold war between Shahid and Ranveer Singh made headlines. Reportedly, the actors couldn't see eye to eye. This created a tensed atmosphere on the set and caused challenges for a seamless shoot.

Later, Shahid admitted that he felt like an 'outsider' during filming Padmaavat.

In the interview, he also shared that he felt undermined and less of a star.

“And I fought it because I am a survivor. Through my journey of 21 years, I have learnt that I am a survivor and I can get out of such difficult situations," Shahid added.

Shahid Kapoor's versatility

Throughout his career spanning over 21 years, Shahid has proven his versatility as an actor in different genres. Some of his notable films are Ishq Vishk, Jab We Met, Shikhar, Vivah, Haider, Chup Chup Ke, Udta Punjab, Padmaavat, Kabir Singh Bloody Daddy, et al. Well, several movies underperformed at the box office. But, he won the hearts of moviegoers with his stellar performance.